Mar. 12, 2014

Maryanne Godboldo / Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press

Written by

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

A Detroit mother whose refusal to give her daughter anti-psychotic medication triggered a standoff with police in 2011 is suing Wayne County and several individuals in federal court, alleging she and her child have been subjected to gross injustice.

In her lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court, Maryanne Godboldo alleges that her constitutional rights were violated when the courts and police had her arrested for doing what she believed was best for her daughter: keeping her off Risperdol, a drug she felt would hurt her then-13-year-old daughter.

State officials had determined that the child needed the medication, but Godboldo refused to give it to her — a decision that ultimately resulted in police officers coming to her home and facing an eight-hour-long standoff with the mother, who was armed and charged in the incident.

According to court documents, Godboldo crossed the line when she fired a shot at the officers when they broke into her home. Godboldo has denied opening fire on anyone, arguing she was only exercising her right as a parent to do what’s best for her child.

“Ironically, Godboldo was jailed for the first time in her life for defending her right to protect her daughter’s health and her minor daughter’s right to not have inappropriate and potentially devastating psychotropic medication forced upon her,” the federal lawsuit states.

Godboldo, meanwhile, still could be facing criminal charges stemming from the standoff incident. Her federal lawsuit comes two days before a state judge is scheduled to decide whether to let the criminal charges against her stick.

Following the 2011 incident, Godboldo was charged with opening fire on police, who were not injured, when they came into her home. Godboldo’s daughter was taken away but ordered returned in December 2011, and charges were dismissed. A state appeals court ended up reinstating the charges after prosecutors appealed.

Godboldo had been charged with discharge of a weapon, three counts of felonious assault, resisting and obstructing an officer and using a firearm in a felony.